Allura
McClellan is horrified by her father’s decision to take out an ad in the Times
awarding her to the man strong enough and smart enough to win her hand and
uncover her secrets.
REVIEW: Allura's Secret
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne Reviewer
Email: RJChrissyDionne@yahoo.com
Christine Young’s ALLURA is a
delightful historical novel full of suspense, lovable characters, humor and a
budding romance between two characters determined not to fall in love. Allura
and Hunter’s stubborn, determined natures allowed for some interesting scenes
as they attempted to get one up on each other. As a modern day woman I felt bad
for Allura because technically her husband would dictate every aspect of her
life and the freedom she loves would be a thing of the past. Hunter is
unbending as far as to how he believes a wife should behave but falling in love
changes him and his perception of Allura. Hunter and Allura are the main focus
of this story but there are secondary characters whom I absolutely adored and
would love to revisit in future novels (hint, hint). Especially the youngest
sister Aiden and Hunter’s trusted friend Blade. He doesn’t believe in love and
she’s determined to do whatever’s necessary to get him to notice her. SNIPPET—
Allura has come to treasure her freedom and the adventures she shares with her
sisters and her cousins but her father’s decision to find her a husband
threatens that freedom. He’s placed an ad in the times in search of a man
strong and smart enough to discover where exactly it is that the girls venture
when they leave the safety of the castle.
EXCERPT: Allura's Secret
He turned her in
his arms. Her hands rested on his chest and she gazed into his eyes. Their
crystal-blue clarity never ceased to surprise him. More beautiful than any
woman he’d ever gazed on, she stole Hunter’s breath. He wondered how he could
have been such a fool to have fallen, even for a moment, for her ugly duckling
ploy. Blade had seen through her game, too. Hunter’s hands tightened around her
waist. She lowered her lashes then looked back into his eyes. Within his chest
his heart thundered. Lightly, he brushed his lips across her forehead. The
sanctity of the moment surprised him. Emotions flew like wildfire between them,
and he felt the magic of Allura deep in his soul.
As if he needed
to share a part of him he pulled back, watching the waves lapping against the
shoreline. "I worked all my life to prove myself." He paused,
tenderly tracing the line of her hair across her forehead. "As children,
Guy would taunt me, but I didn’t let his words change my plans. I knew what I
was and what I wasn’t. I understood what would and would not be given to me.
The world doesn’t give much to men who are born bastards." He smiled at
her, traced the line of her jaw. "I don’t want your sympathy."
"I
know," she said, her voice soft, almost admiring.
She moistened
her lips, her lashes fluttered across alabaster cheeks. Slowly, he lowered his
head. Their lips brushed tentatively. It was a sweet, languid kiss, a kiss that
promised so much more.
Yet he forced
himself to stop.
"I sold
myself to armies. I stepped into the boxing ring letting the rich bet on my
prowess, and I’ve saved everything I have earned. Blade found a failing estate
in the north of England. I had enough money to buy it, but then we saw the ad
in the times your father posted.
In his arms she
stiffened.
"I thought
heaven sent me a miracle. I didn’t know what this land and this castle would be
like. I knew I had to find out. I had to try."
"For the
heiress," she said, her fingers weaving into his hair.
"But I’ve
been pleasantly surprised."
"Why did
you stay?"
"Enough,"
he said, unwilling to waste another moment in useless talk. Measure by measure
he brought his mouth down until his breath mixed with hers. With a care that
cost him dearly, Hunter touched his lips to Allura’s in a feather-light caress
that stung his skin exquisitely. He traced the seam there, urging her to open
for him. She rose on her toes, pulling him closer. Despite the animosity
between them, she was so very passionate, so willing. Her response to him was
so innocent. She made a small, whimpering sound and her eyes flickered shut.
Irresistible magic flowed between them when they touched.
Yet in other
ways, she fought him so hard. Hunter drew back and studied her heartbreakingly
lovely face. The lines were drawn tense, her lips moist and slightly parted.
Tendrils of her hair moved softly around her face, encouraged by a sea breeze.
"I would
know more about you," she whispered.
"You
would?" He wanted to win her heart, to hold it so tightly she would see
everything his way. Yet he knew deep inside she would always have an opinion of
her own, and he would have to learn to deal with that.
A sigh raised
her breasts, and Hunter clenched his hands more tightly around her waist.
"Yes,"
she said.
"There is
little of interest to tell."
She appeared
startled. "I don’t believe you, Sir." But then her attention suddenly
settled on his mouth, and she leaned ever so slightly even closer.
"Your
disbelief does not bode well for our marriage. I would have your trust if not
your love," he told her, challenging her, knowing in his heart he’d just
given her opportunity to swear her love--knowing too she would not do so.
Hunter felt
sweat break out on his brow as they slowly drew together.
He knew what he
would do, what he must do. He would work his way into Allura’s life until she
thought only of him, obeyed only him. He would become the center of everything
for her, then he would get her with child. She would be so immersed in her life
with him and a new babe she would never think of the island sanctuary again.
He’d wasted too much time discovering her secret.
Now he must win
her heart as well as her trust.
She pressed
against him innocently, moving more and more insistently. Hunter shifted his
hands to her neck and stroked her there, touched his fingertips to the
sensitive hollows behind her collarbones, found the delicate spots beneath her
ears. Her breathing grew faster. He bent to kiss the places his hands had just
explored and saw the rapid rise and fall of her breasts.
Allura moaned
softly against his throat, and he realized that following his example, she was
tentatively kissing his neck. Her hands had found a way beneath his shirt, and
she kneaded his chest with feverish intensity.
Raising her
chin, he kissed her fully, passionately, holding nothing back this time. He
opened her mouth with his lips and felt her shudder. Barely a second passed
before she responded, imitating the thrusts of his tongue with hot little
forays of her own.
"You are so
sweet," he said against her cheek. "So absolutely exquisite."
"Hunter,"
was all she said and her voice broke on his name.
He had entered
into a realm that very nearly overwhelmed all his senses. It was a world Hunter
was not used to, but meant to explore. Control was the ultimate word, because
he meant to take this seduction at least one step farther than before. A few
kisses were all they had shared. This time he meant to show Allura just how
much pleasure she would find with him and give her a hint of the marriage bed
as well.
ALSO BY CHRISTINE YOUNG
ALSO BY CHRISTINE YOUNG
Kindle
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BLURB: The Wager
Amorica
Hepburn was sent to London to find a husband. However, finding a man was the
last item on her agenda. With her two
cousins, Amorica wagers she can dissuade her suitor before the others. Despite
her efforts she discovers a chemistry that cannot be denied. Suddenly she is
the arrogant man's wife, pledged to a marriage neither desire. But swept off to
his ancestral home above the Dover cliffs and into his strong embrace, Amorica
is soon possessed by a raging passion for the husband she had vowed to despise…
Damian Andrews couldn't afford to trust the emerald-eyed spitfire who
happened upon his secret. Amorica's hatred of all men of his
kind only inflames the war that rages between them. Still, he can not control
the intense desire his stubborn bride inspires, or make her surrender to his
will until he has conquered the headstrong beauty on the battlefield of love…
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